Anxiety and Worry and Fear, oh my!

There feels like so much to be anxious or worry about or fear, especially in current times of economic and social hardship. You can’t go to bed without thinking of something that feels as if it is going all wrong. I know these feelings all too well. I actually began the day wondering and worrying about you, my reader.

It wasn’t the message I was worried about, that is delivered to me from the most reliable source I know. It was the story, I had gotten so many messages(thanks by the way) regarding Jamal’s story and to be honest the pressure of duplicating that shook me. I read my bible, prayed and still….blank! Wasted some time looking online at sales, checked fb…still BLANK! Then I realized my thoughts, my feelings totally unnecessary! So without further a due…

Michael was a everything a man should be, hardworking, honest, good father and husband. He believed in God and had a good relationship with Him. This particular friday, Michael was looking forward to getting paid (don’t we all!), paying some bills, and going home to see his family. At 5:00 when the work day was over, Michael got in line for his check. As Michael stood in line, he began to go over where the money was already “spent”. “$220 on power, $1200 rent, $190 Car…” Last in line, it was Michael’s turn to get his check. He took the little white envelope with his name, Michael C. neatly written in cursive on the front, and stuffed it into his jacket pocket. On the way out of the building, Michael noticed his co-workers crying. But, in a hurry got in his car and drove to the bank.

When he got to the bank, he got his checkbook and began to prepare his deposit slip. Michael opened the envelope to get the exact amount of his check to enter onto the slip. Instead of a paycheck, Michael found a white sheet of paper and a crisp $50 bill. Michael read the letter and began to weep. Instead of his paycheck, he had been given a termination notice and as consolation for his lost wages $50. Tears running down his face, Michael looked at the notice and crumpled it up into a ball. The company had closed and did not possess the capital to pay the due wages.

How was he going to tell his wife? How were they going to pay bills! How would they survive? Rent was due, bills were past due and he was their only source of income. Sadly, the C family lost nearly everything. They lost their residence, most of their possessions, but not their faith. The family survived off of the generosity of others, and small miracles. Michael searched for a job five days a week, eight to ten hours a day, submitting nearly 250 applications/resumes a week. After two months, countless interviews and even more rejection letters, Michael was hired.

Slowly, his family began to rebuild some of what they had lost. Yet, in this they learned a valuable lesson. They replaced the importance of possessions and worldly things with the importance of love. They learned that above all else, God’s love and the love of each other is the most important and valuable treasure. The only treasure that cannot be sold, broken or ever taken away.

So…why is this so important? This family is not unique. God makes miracles everyday. Am I saying that if you have faith in God that you can live a fairy tale? No. Am I saying that if you have faith in God that you will never have to do any work or put forth any effort? No. I am saying calm the anxiety, stop the worrying and extinguish the fear that it will never work out. God will always provide. It may not be what, how or when you want, but it will be sufficient and in His infinite wisdom, right on time. (not your time, His time) And though, you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, keep walking in faith towards it. And even if you fall or stumble along the way, get back up and continue on knowing all the time that God will never fail you.

1 Peter 5: 6-10

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

With Love,

Siobhan

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2 comments on “Anxiety and Worry and Fear, oh my!”

Brandon H

December 17, 2010

I love this blog! Because so many people are going through this right now. There is so much desperation and not enough hope. Thank you for the wonderful post and inspiration. BTW the scriptures are awesome. It has inspired me to read the bible more. Now, I am going to explore the whole site to see what else it has to offer.